I Don't Want to Be the Villainess Anymore - Chapter 45

Rong Xi was momentarily taken aback when she saw the car waiting for her. Under normal circumstances, Uncle Liu wouldn’t drive such a flashy vehicle to pick her up. The usual ride was an unremarkable Mercedes—though it still cost over a million—but compared to this one… it was downright modest.

She opened the car door, about to ask Uncle Liu what was going on, when she spotted Qin Yuzhen sitting in the back seat with the posture of a domineering CEO.

To be fair, Qin Yuzhen’s posture wasn’t all that different from usual—she was just sitting normally—but for some inexplicable reason, Rong Xi’s mind immediately labeled it as “domineering CEO-like.” Maybe it was the aura? Like something straight out of an old-school romance novel.

“What are you standing there like an idiot for?” Qin Yuzhen glanced at Rong Xi, sensing that her expression was probably conjuring up some ridiculous thoughts.

“Oh.” Rong Xi got into the car. “Did you just get back?”

“Mm.”

Rong Xi studied Qin Yuzhen’s face, hesitating before scrutinizing it more carefully. “Are you wearing makeup?”

“Mm.” Qin Yuzhen acknowledged again.

“Why did you suddenly decide to wear makeup today?” Without waiting for an answer, Rong Xi pressed on, “And why the car change? What exactly did you do today? Did you go pick a fight with someone?”

“Went to do something bad,” Qin Yuzhen said offhandedly.

Rong Xi: “…”

“Uncle Liu, where did you pick her up from?” Rong Xi was deeply convinced that nothing coming out of Qin Yuzhen’s mouth could be trusted. She turned to Uncle Liu instead.

“I promised the young miss I wouldn’t say,” Uncle Liu replied. “Miss, you’d better not ask me.”

Rong Xi shot Qin Yuzhen a look, displeasure practically oozing from her eyes.

“I got the contact info of another impressive girl today,” Qin Yuzhen said, a hint of pride in her tone.

“Oh, how impressive, sis,” Rong Xi said in a deliberately saccharine voice.

“She really is quite something,” Qin Yuzhen mused.

“Hmph.”

Qin Yuzhen glanced at her. “What’s with the ‘hmph’?”

“None of your business.” Rong Xi leaned against the car door. “You won’t even tell me where you went.”

“You’ll find out eventually,” Qin Yuzhen said. “I don’t think I’ve given you the things I bought yesterday yet.”

“Oh.”

“So, you don’t want them?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Rong Xi kept her gaze fixed out the window, refusing to look at Qin Yuzhen.

Qin Yuzhen felt her authority as an older sister gradually slipping away.

When they got home, Rong Xi remained in a sulk, barely acknowledging Qin Yuzhen. She grabbed some late-night snacks and headed upstairs without another word.

Watching Rong Xi’s retreating figure, Qin Yuzhen decided to let her stew for a bit. This attitude really wasn’t ideal.

Rong Xi waited and waited for Qin Yuzhen to bring her the promised items, but after a long while, there was no sign of movement.

She walked to the door and cracked it open slightly, peeking out into the hallway. No one was there. After a moment’s thought, she left the door slightly ajar and returned to sit on the sofa.

When she heard footsteps ascending the stairs outside, Rong Xi instinctively straightened up and picked up a book from the table, placing it open on her lap.

And then… she heard a door close.

Rong Xi: ???

Rong Xi: She went back? She actually went back? And closed the door!

Rong Xi: Hmph. She must be getting my things.

Rong Xi waited a few more minutes, but there was still no movement from the other side. She pursed her lips, glanced at the time, and ultimately couldn’t hold back any longer. She pulled out her phone and sent Qin Yuzhen a message.

Rong Xi: When are you coming over? I’m about to go to sleep!

Qin Yuzhen: You’re still awake? I’m already in bed.

Rong Xi: ???

She hadn’t even showered yet because she was waiting for Qin Yuzhen, and this woman was already asleep?

Rong Xi: ???

Qin Yuzhen: ???

Qin Yuzhen: Did I say I was coming to see you today?

Rong Xi carefully thought back—Qin Yuzhen really hadn’t mentioned giving her anything today. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d been played. Today, she had finally mustered some courage, only to be outmaneuvered.

She punched the couch twice.

“Tsk, what, were you waiting for me?”

Rong Xi: “…”

Rong Xi froze at the teasing voice from the doorway and looked over. Qin Yuzhen was standing there, holding a few small bags in her hand.

“Weren’t you asleep? Why are you here?” Rong Xi said, trying to suppress the joy in her heart.

“Didn’t you ask me to come?” Qin Yuzhen raised an eyebrow.

“And you just barged into my room without knocking!” Rong Xi continued. “So rude. I always knock when I enter your room.”

“So, do you want it or not? So much nonsense.” Qin Yuzhen shook the bags in her hand. “Besides, you didn’t even close your door. Weren’t you deliberately leaving it open for me?”

“Who left it open for you?! I—I just didn’t close it properly!” Rong Xi retorted.

Qin Yuzhen sat down beside Rong Xi. “I think you’re getting more and more spoiled.”

“Oh.”

The system had observed Qin Yuzhen’s entire mental process and actions. All it could say was that Qin Yuzhen had absolutely no principles—she was fickle and utterly inconsistent in her stance. Whether it was because she was swayed by appearances or some other reason, it was hard to say.

“Take a look yourself.” Qin Yuzhen tossed the bags to Rong Xi.

Rong Xi opened them one by one, taking out the contents.

This was the first time in a long while that Qin Yuzhen had entered Rong Xi’s room—aside from that one time Rong Xi had given her a tour of the villa.

Usually, it was Rong Xi who went to her, or Qin Yuzhen who summoned Rong Xi over.

“This bracelet is pretty.” Rong Xi picked out the starry-sky-themed one and admired it.

“Yeah, I had to snatch it from someone else,” Qin Yuzhen said.

“Help me put it on.” Rong Xi handed the bracelet to Qin Yuzhen. “Sis, hurry up~”

“So demanding.” Qin Yuzhen gave her a disdainful look.

Rong Xi’s wrist was slender—Qin Yuzhen felt like she could snap it with just a little force. She carefully fastened the bracelet. It really was beautiful and suited Rong Xi perfectly.

Then again, there probably wasn’t any bracelet or bangle that wouldn’t look good on Rong Xi’s wrist. Her hands were so lovely they could’ve been hand models’. Of course, Qin Yuzhen only thought this to herself—she’d never say it out loud.

Rong Xi’s tail was already wagging in the sky; any more praise might send it straight into outer space.

“Done.” Qin Yuzhen said.

Rong Xi examined her wrist. “The others are nice too, but I’m not used to wearing necklaces. Still, I’ll wear them.”

“Oh.”

“What did you keep for yourself?” Rong Xi asked curiously.

“That painting.”

Rong Xi fell silent for two seconds, then patted Qin Yuzhen’s hand.

“What are you doing? Little sister, don’t take advantage of me so casually,” Qin Yuzhen said.

Rong Xi: So much for my intention to comfort her.

“I’m going back to sleep,” Qin Yuzhen yawned.

“Feels like you sleep eight hundred hours every day.”

“I’m sure you’re just talking nonsense,” Qin Yuzhen retorted irritably.

“By the way, are you going to take more leave later?”

“Yeah,” Qin Yuzhen replied.

“Every time for a whole day?”

“Yep,” Qin Yuzhen said.

Rong Xi looked at Qin Yuzhen: “What if it affects your studies?”

“Fine, I’ll tell you—I’m actually studying outside too,” Qin Yuzhen said. “High school knowledge isn’t that interesting to me anymore.”

“Where do you find the time?” Rong Xi was genuinely curious. Whether it was traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy, badminton, or Qin Yuzhen’s terrifyingly good grades—all of them required time. And she suspected Qin Yuzhen had even more skills beyond these.

Qin Yuzhen stood up and gave Rong Xi a look: “Because I’m a god.”

Rong Xi rolled her eyes at Qin Yuzhen—so hard it was practically a full-circle flip.

“That’s hideous,” Qin Yuzhen said with a disgusted expression.

“If it weren’t hideous, it wouldn’t convey the depth of my exasperation.”

“Tch.” Qin Yuzhen reached out and roughly ruffled Rong Xi’s hair.

Rong Xi glared, trying her best to stop her, but her hair was still thoroughly messed up by Qin Yuzhen.

“You’re so annoying!”

“Time to wash your hair.”

“It’s greasy because you touched it! How can you even say that?”

Qin Yuzhen waved at Rong Xi and walked out the door.

“Close the door for me.”

“No.”

Rong Xi: “…”

“Host, you’re losing your touch,” the system lamented, sounding almost heartbroken. “Now the only way you can bully your little sister is by not closing the door for her?”

Qin Yuzhen: “…”

“What are you talking about?” Qin Yuzhen was baffled.

“When we get back, I’m telling Ji Changyin and Ji Mingxiao that you can’t even handle one little sister,” the system said. In its view, Rong Xi had been aggressively gaining ground lately while Qin Yuzhen was steadily retreating.

Qin Yuzhen: “???”

“You might have some issues,” Qin Yuzhen said, shoving her hands into her pockets. “I’m just letting her win, okay? Geez.”

“Oh.” The system sighed.

The next day at school, Rong Xi was still simmering with anger from having her hair ruffled by Qin Yuzhen the day before. No matter how she looked at Qin Yuzhen, she just couldn’t find her agreeable.

Qin Yuzhen ignored her too. Upon reflection, she realized that running over as soon as Rong Xi messaged her yesterday hadn’t been ideal—she should’ve made Rong Xi come to her instead.

So today, she was determined to make Rong Xi speak first.

The two exchanged glances, each with a hint of challenge in their eyes.

System: What kind of elementary school-level standoff is this?

It couldn’t tell whether Qin Yuzhen had rubbed off on Rong Xi or if Rong Xi was the one influencing Qin Yuzhen.

When Qin Yuzhen and Rong Xi entered the classroom, Liang Xuzhou immediately sensed the tension between them. If he had to describe it, it was like the difference between a honeymoon phase and a cold war.

The two sat down at their seats and began organizing their things in silence, neither speaking to the other. Liang Xuzhou didn’t say anything either—he usually greeted them, but he figured saying anything now might just make him a target for their frustration.

“You used to say good morning to me, why not today?” Qin Yuzhen turned her head to look at Liang Xuzhou.

“Right, you didn’t say it to me either.” Rong Xi also turned around.

“Do you have some kind of problem with us?” Qin Yuzhen said expressionlessly.

Liang Xuzhou: ???

Liang Xuzhou: What did I do to deserve this?

“Qin Yuzhen, whether I have a problem with you or not, don’t you already know the answer in your heart?”